New England is the quintessential beauty where old-world Europe meets new-world America. Whether you are based in the northeast, or live far away, you + your partner can find the perfect New England elopement location to say “I do”.
Here are a few things to think about before you start planning your New England elopement.
Do you prefer that simply you, your partner, your officiant, and I serve as your photographer for the elopement? Or do you only want some visitors? Would you prefer to handle all the planning or employ a micro-wedding package certain venues offer? Continue reading to see some spots I recommend in each of the New England states!
How to Elope in New England
- Decide on what you want to get out of your day – do you have a vision, theme, or must-have that you cannot imagine your day without?
- Find your elopement photographer – you’ll want someone that matches the vibe + is up for the adventure (Contact me to learn more about what I can offer you!)
- We’ll plan and discuss anything and everything you want and need for your day. I’m here to help you plan it all and ensure it’s the best day for you and your partner!
- Apply for a marriage license and any necessary permits (click on the New England states below for how to obtain these).
- Together we’ll explore and adventure your elopement location – taking in the sights, creating memories + of course capturing your special day, and you enjoying it all!
- Finally, pop the champagne + celebrate!
Eloping in Maine
Acadia National Park has stunning spots for your New England Elopement. Feel free to plan for a specific location in the park, or we can explore together when we get there! Some popular park spots are:
- Cadillac Mountain is the most popular and with good reason! Note, this area does require advanced vehicle registration.
- Sand Beach is one of the first stops in the park and is very busy in the summer months. BUT, this spot gives stunning and moody beach vibes in the shoulder seasons.
- Otter Cliffs
- Blue Hill Overlook
- Jordan Pond
- Sieur de Monts
- AND MORE! Explore this gallery for inspiration + this article for tips on planning your New England Elopement at Acadia National Park!
Grafton Notch State Park is your location if you’re looking for a hiking elopement that will feature waterfalls + stunning mountain views! You can do a 3-mile hike, or challenge yourself with a 7.5-mile hike to enjoy fire tower views of the notch.
Baxter State Park is the perfect elopement spot if you’re looking for rocky ridges overlooking sweeping ravines. Glacial lakes + abundant wildlife give unique depths to your elopement.
Camden Hill State Park overlooks Penobscot Bay and is the perfect balance of dark blue waters, bright blue skies + rugged greenery. You can elope in the forest, on a beach, atop a mountain, or near the Mt. Battie Tower.
Nubble Lighthouse is easily accessible and offers vast ocean views. Elope on the rocky shore with waves crashing around you and the lighthouse in the background…stunning! Parking here is free, but is limited and cannot be reserved beforehand.
New Hampshire Elopement Spots
White Mountain National Forest is an evergreen location I’m always willing to hike through with you any time of year! Private alcoves off the trails or mountain-top elopements are stunning with a rich landscape background. Here’s a like to a snowy mountain elopement I shot. Some of my favorite mountain spots include:
- Cathedral Ledge
- Echo Lake State Park
- Echo Lake Beach at Cannon Mountain
- Indian Head
- Mt Willard
Prescott Park is a public park in downtown Portsmouth. This popular spot often hosts arts and theater events so the timing for elopement would be limited depending on what’s on their calendar. This riverfront park is surrounded by historic homes + is beautifully landscaped making it the ideal spot for a New England elopement that wants to look like it stepped back in time.
Rhododendron State Park is the perfect mid-July elopement spot. The National Natural Landmark is a stunning grove of rhododendrons that hit peak bloom in mid-July. Even outside of the peak, the grove is a one-of-a-kind elopement spot!
Crawford Notch offers 5,775 acres of beautiful mountains, waterfalls, hiking + fishing. You can camp on-site here if you’re planning a camping elopement. The prime season is Memorial Day to Columbus Day, outside of this season you’ll see fewer crowds on the trails, and in the campsites. I highly suggest a waterfall or mountaintop elopement in this park!
Pinkham Notch allows you to hike through the Presidential Mountain Range and to the Mount Washington Summit. Along the trail are stunning lakes, and viewpoints with miles of visibility for your elopement backdrop. If the weather is great, you could even elope at the top of Mt. Washington!
Lake Winnipesaukee is the jewel of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. On the lakes, there are plenty of spots for you to stow away and enjoy your elopement! Maybe hiking up Mt. Major or the easy loop at Red Hill, or enjoying the view from a remote island, boat, or paddleboard, the views are stunning and the perfect backdrop for your New England elopement!
Pickering House Inn in Wolfeboro was just voted one of the best resorts in New England and one of the best hotels in the world, and is the perfect space to celebrate your Lake Winni elopement!
Travel & Leisure
Kimball’s Castle is a gorgeous historic site overlooking Lake Winni. You can stay at the innkeeper’s cottage (found on Airbnb) to have the stunning abandoned castle, Lake Winnepesauki, and Mt. Washington in your elopement portraits.
Where to Get Married in Vermont
Vermont has plenty of mountains for the adventurous New England elopement! Here are some hot spots in the Green Mountains:
- Mount Mansfield offers secluded elopement spots and the option to step into Stowe for quintessential New England vibes.
- Killington Mountain – the Deer Leap Trail and the Thundering Brook Falls Trails are gorgeous!
- Camel’s Hump
- Jay Peak & Jay State Forest
Some other stunning hikes among the mountains for the perfect elopement include:
- Sugarbush Mountain
- Smuggler’s Notch State Park
- Warren Falls requires climbing over some large rocks to get close to the falls, but those views are priceless!
- Quechee Gorge is a natural gorge that offers stunning views of the surrounding area. It’s a popular elopement spot, with several areas around the gorge that would make great ceremony locations.
Lake Willoughby, part of Willoughby State Forest, is a glacial lake on the edge of a mountainous basin beautifully framed with rugged mountains. STUNNING any time of year!
Church Street Marketplace is an outdoor pedestrian mall in Burlington that offers a variety of locations that would make great elopement spots, including the fountains, the clock tower, and the murals. It’s a great option for couples who want a more urban setting for their elopement.
Lake Champlain Islands offer stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. It’s a popular spot for elopements, with several secluded areas along the shoreline to exchange vows.
Massachusetts Offers a Variety of Elopement Spots
To learn everything you need to know about getting married in Massachusetts, click here.
The Berkshires is a one-stop shop. This area offers quaint towns, farms, orchards + vineyards along with hiking trails, lakes + meadows for you to choose from for your ideal New England elopement.
Cape Cod has infinite beaches for you to choose from. Does a particular beach call to you or hold special sentiment? Call the town it’s located in to see if you can get a permit to get married on the beach for a nominal fee. The grand dunes, marshlands + wildlife make for an irresistible + romantic backdrop for your elopement! (P.S. Indian Neck Beach in Wellfleet is a dream at sunset!) And, don’t forget about Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, just a short ferry ride from Hyannis!
Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham offers views of the ocean, Salt Pond, marches + dunes. From here you can often spot whales and seals in the water. It’s a stunning spot for your elopement. I highly suggest it at sunrise or dusk.
Newburyport is an idyllic town on the northern Massachusetts shoreline. Not only can you elope in the historical town, but you also have the option to elope on the beach at Plum Island, or in Maudslay State Park. This area gives you stunning options for your elopement location + pictures of before and after!
Boston is the historic capital of Massachusetts and home to so many unique elopement options! Here you can enjoy your New England Elopement at:
- Arnold Arboretum is perfect for small, intimate elopement and wedding photography. Surrounded by lush foliage you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your ceremony!
- Boston Commons & Public Gardens also requires a permit acquired at least 10 days prior to your elopement. If you get married here, you can explore the public gardens, ponds, bridges, and statues. Buskers may serenade and offer background music for the affair, and some parts of the commons can be quite busy.
- Fan Pier & Harborwalk where industrial Boston meets the sea, with a touch of greenery, is an ideal backdrop for a couple who loves the city and the salt air.
Rhode Island‘s Shoreline is the Perfect Place for Your Wedding
Exploring the coastline of Rhode Island you can find it all – wild, rocky cliffs overlooking the vast ocean or refined towns and cities steeped in history and wealth like Newport:
- Brenton Point State Park sits on what was once the largest estate in Newport, overlooking the bay. You can elope with the water in the background, and take portraits near the statues and monuments. This park offers the accessibility of Newport, and wide open spaces to enjoy!
- Cliffwalk
- Don’t forget the beaches, themselves!
And, as I mentioned the Rhode Island coast is gorgeous, and any public beach would be perfect for your elopement. I really enjoy these:
- South Shore Beach
- Block Island
- Narragansett Beaches
Lincoln Woods State Park has varied spaces for you to elope – with water, forests, bridges + more, it’s your choice where to exchange vows!
The Best Spots in Connecticut
Harkness Memorial State Park is a stunning estate property that’s popular for engagements and could be perfect for your private elopement. The park is free for instate vehicles to park and has a small fee if you’re driving an out-of-state vehicle. On the property, you can enjoy stunning views of the historic mansion, or use the manicured lawns to exchange your vows.
Hartford City Hall is classic New England. You can rent the atrium for pictures for $50, and enjoy the archetypical historic architecture. High ceilings, abundant natural light + boundless, masterful architectural details set an elegant, classic background for your elopement.
Finding Your Unique New England Elopement Spot
Above, I’ve outlined some broadly beautiful places to elope in New England above there are some special and unusual places that can be the perfect spot for you! Maybe there’s a beautiful public park or beach that has meaning to you or just calls to you – go for it! Often reaching out to the town for specific permits is all you need to elope in these spaces.
After you pick a location, explore Airbnb + vacation rental websites in an area you love! Not only can this offer the perfect prep space for your elopement, but it could be the perfect elopement + celebration location (just make sure this is okay with the host)! Here’s a post I wrote about planning your Airbnb Elopement.
Now, When to Elope in New England
New England is an evergreen beauty for your elopement! Equally important to choosing where is choosing when. Every time of year offers gorgeous spots + features for you to enjoy and set as the background of your wedding, but each season is vastly different than the last and even varies from state to state. Continue reading below for some things to keep in mind for each season.
Spring
The changing of each season is a beautiful transition, but I especially love the greenery and flowers that come out in the spring. Keep in mind in northern New England states (New Hampshire, Vermont + Maine) it is often cold and rainy through most of May.
Summer
Are you a summer person? New England offers some beautiful sights in the summer months whether you want to get married in front of our rocky shorelines, in grassy meadows, or hike to a private alcove in the mountains. There is something for everyone!
Autumn
If you’re looking for fall foliage in the background, this will affect the timing and the location of your wedding. Leaves in northern New England will change in late September, or early October, often peaking by Indigenous Peoples Day (the second weekend of October).
Winter
The colder seasons bring a level of unpredictability along with beautiful snow-covered trees and mountains. If the snow and cold don’t bother you – this season opens up a new perspective for outdoor elopements. A slew of outdoor activities + experiences are available for you on your special day.
Next, you can explore some of my past blog posts that may give you more insight:
- Best Places to Elope in the U.S.
- Romantic + Exciting Stowe, Vermont Elopement
- The Ultimate Guide to Your NH Elopement
- Cliffside Acadia National Park Elopement
- How to Elope in Acadia National Park
- NH Snowy Hiking Elopement
- How to Plan an AirBNB Elopement
- How to Plan a Destination Elopement on a Budget
- How to Pack for an Adventure Elopement
Lastly, do you have some ideas but want to talk them out first?
I’m so excited for you! I would love to chat with you and explore some of your ideas. Click here to get in touch!
